Arésé Pollard, Director of Financial Equity Sales at KBW, has built an impressive career in financial-focused investment banking. With 16 years of experience, she has mastered the art of nurturing client relationships, fostering corporate and investor partnerships, and steering high-growth companies through successful IPOs. Known for her resilience and collaborative spirit, Arésé consistently brings insight and dedication to every endeavour.
Her journey into finance feels almost inevitable, shaped by her academic pursuits and family influence. “I earned my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Imperial College in London. My MSc in Management Science deepened my interest in finance, but if I’m honest, it probably started much earlier,” Arésé reflects. Growing up in Berkshire, with her father working as a quant in investment banking and hedge funds, finance was woven into the fabric of her upbringing. “I think I was inspired to pursue a career in the industry by both my father and the environment at a science-based university in the heart of London,” she shares.
Arésé’s career began at Barclays on their graduate scheme, where she joined the Strategy team. Over the years, she has taken on a variety of roles within finance, but one constant has remained: her focus on the client. “The client has always been at the centre of everything I do,” she emphasizes. Her broad experience, spanning analytical, technical, and client-facing roles, has equipped her with the tools to excel in any team setting.
For Arésé, teamwork is key. “The highest-functioning teams I’ve been a part of included a diverse set of skills and backgrounds. This alone can foster a nurturing and creative culture,” she notes. It’s this philosophy that has defined her leadership style and driven her success in the industry.
Milestones That Shaped the Journey
Every new role in Arésé’s career has marked a significant milestone, each one sharpening her skills and expanding her perspective. Over her 16 years in financial services, Arésé has built a robust portfolio of analytical and interpersonal expertise.
One pivotal moment was her transition from the Strategy team to Investor Relations at Barclays. “This positioned me well to develop my career in client-facing roles within both investment banking and a private equity fund,” Arésé shares. Her time at a private equity fund, where she successfully raised significant assets, became the foundation of her confidence and her enduring career.
Arésé’s journey began at Barclays, where she joined the firm’s graduate leadership scheme and worked alongside a diverse, multicultural team. Transitioning from investor relations to equity sales presented challenges, but Arésé embraced them with determination. “It was a steep learning curve initially, but I saw it as a welcome challenge,” she recalls. Her experience in investor relations, working for Barclays, seamlessly translated to her role in equity sales, where she now specializes in analysing financials of companies like Barclays.
Overcoming challenges has been a recurring theme in Arésé’s career. “I overcame them the way I always do—by putting in the work and building the right relationships internally,” she notes. She credits her success to a relentless commitment to learning, spending hours reading and analysing to master the intricacies of each new role.
Leading with Empathy and Integrity
Arésé believes that true leadership begins with empathy and leading by example. “People don’t listen to what you say as much as they follow what you do and remember how you made them feel,” she explains. By inspiring others, she strives to bring out the best in them—creating a win-win scenario for individuals and the organization.
She sets high standards and appeals to her team’s ambition. “If you’ve hired juniors with A-player potential, you can have confidence they’ll deliver,” Arésé shares. Drawing from stoic philosophy, she embraces a mindset of being strict with herself but tolerant with others. “It’s a liberating and rewarding approach, both professionally and personally,” she adds.
For Arésé, values like openness, determination, and positivity are non-negotiable. She emphasizes the importance of building a supportive community within teams, fostering an environment where work becomes an enjoyable and enriching experience.
Humility and transparency are at the core of her client relationships. “Clients appreciate honesty. If you’re ever dishonest, you risk destroying both the personal relationship and the value of the franchise you represent,” Arésé asserts. Her approach is rooted in mutual learning and serving the client’s needs, a strategy she believes is essential for building long-term trust and partnerships.
Establishing a Strong Foundation for Success
Early in her career, Arésé delivered significant profit growth in commercial and consumer card strategies, a role she took on as a young graduate in her early twenties. “It was a time of long hours and building a broad set of analytical skills,” she reflects. Mentored by a diligent leader she describes as “something of a legend,” Arésé learned invaluable lessons that shaped her professional ethos.
“The greatest career challenges often come at the start when the learning curve is steepest,” she notes. Arésé believes that a professional’s mindset, determination, and work ethic in those early years set the tone for their future success.
She is a strong advocate of a growth mindset, encouraging young professionals to set ambitious goals. “I genuinely believe we’re all capable of more than we realize,” Arésé says. In a competitive industry, she emphasizes the importance of resilience and learning from mistakes as key traits that set individuals apart.
Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers
Arésé’s journey is a testament to the power of collaboration. She emphasizes that her milestones would have been unattainable without the support of a strong, united team. One of her proudest achievements was leading the fundraise for PensionBee, a high-growth fintech company. As the sales deal captain, she witnessed the entire team at KBW and its parent company, Stifel, come together with a shared passion and commitment to delivering excellence for both the company and their institutional clients.
She is particularly optimistic about the potential revival of the IPO market, especially in London. “Part of what we do as an investment bank is work with management teams that want to raise money through listing their companies on a public market,” Arésé shares. However, her enthusiasm is tempered by concerns about the declining prominence of the London Stock Exchange. While lobbying remains an important tool, she firmly believes in focusing on what can be controlled—delivering exceptional service to clients.
For Arésé, this philosophy of control and excellence is central to her work. “We can only deliver the things that we can control,” she says, reflecting her pragmatic yet hopeful approach to the challenges in her industry.
Redefining Leadership in Investment Banking
In her role at KBW, Arésé balances the intricate dynamics of managing relationships with companies and investors. Success in this arena, she believes, hinges on understanding the needs of both sides and aligning their interests. Her ability to do this effectively not only fosters trust but also directly impacts the revenue she generates for the firm.
One of the challenges Arésé faces is the persistent underrepresentation of women in senior roles within the financial industry. Despite this, she sees her position as an opportunity to pave the way for others. “There is a shortage of women in the industry, particularly in more senior roles. I think that makes my presence and delivery all the more vital,” she remarks.
She is heartened by the progress KBW has made in recruiting more women, and she hopes her own journey serves as an inspiration for others. Arésé’s long-term goal is clear: to continue delivering outstanding results for both corporate and institutional clients. “My clients seem happiest when I understand them and help them make money over the long term,” she says, summarizing her client-centric approach.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Leaders
As someone who has navigated the demanding world of finance, Arésé has a simple yet profound message for aspiring women leaders: “Put in the work, learn from your failures, and prioritize your sleep.” Reflecting on her early career, she admits that much of her twenties were spent overworked and chronically exhausted. While she gained invaluable experience, she is confident that greater attention to rest would have made her even more productive.
Arésé encourages young professionals to push themselves to their fullest potential. “If you consistently work to the full extent of your ability, then you will deliver on your potential and probably surpass your expectations,” she advises. Her insights are a reminder that resilience, growth, and self-care are the cornerstones of sustained success in any career.
In a field where determination and perseverance are essential, Arésé Pollard exemplifies how grit, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence can open doors and inspire the next generation of leaders.
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